Starting May 13, the historic architecture of the Breitenseer Lichtspiele will provide the starkest possible contrast to contemporary media art. Vienna’s oldest cinema, which has been in continuous operation since 1905, is the unexpected venue for the art+film+vienna festival. If you’ve read our reports over the past few weeks on the best new pop-up exhibitions or peaceful spring outings around Vienna, you know: May has a lot to offer culturally.
A vibe off the beaten path
The idea of watching experimental film art in these venerable armchairs immediately piques your curiosity. Here , you can expect a vibe that’s more like an art lab than a classic movie night. Don’t expect linear Hollywood stories, but rather hybrid screening formats that blend documentary approaches with AI aesthetics or performative elements. The program is for anyone interested in modern art in the form of media. The vibe is modern, young, experimental, and artistic.
Opening on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Right at the opening on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Joanna Zabielska places her performance *Design of the Anonymous* in a completely new social context. In the days that follow, works such as *Human Movie* by Eryk Salvaggio and *Phantom Aspect* by Oleksandr Isaienko will be screened, both of which take an unconventional approach to artificiality and global crises. A huge plus for the experience: most of the filmmakers will be on-site in the theater for direct interaction during the Q&As.
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Penzinger collaborations and fair prices
The program even transcends the physical boundaries of Breitenseer Straße 21. As a local partner, the Penzing District Museum is on board, where films like “Bubble Bath” enter into a direct dialogue with the exhibition spaces.
Ticket prices remain absolutely fair: A regular single ticket costs 10 euros, while with a student ID or Ö1 card you pay only 9 euros. Frequent viewers can get the festival pass for 40 euros, and the nonstop cinema subscription is also valid for the screenings.
📍 Address: Breitenseer Lichtspiele, Breitenseer Straße 21, 1140 Vienna (as well as the Penzing District Museum)
💶 Admission: Tickets from €9 / Regular €10 / Festival pass €40
🗓️ Date: May 13–16, 2026
